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I had the opportunity to speak with Afshan Kirmani on her article, Getting a Form’s Structure Right: Designing Usable Online Email Applications Part 1. We talk about the design of an online web based application. Part 1 of the series focuses on the web based form where the user experience is critical before the user enters the application. The various aspects include a good entry point into a form which determines if users stay or leave. The beginning of every form is most important as details like usability set your apart from your competitors.
We further talk about…
Affordance
Good entry points into a web based form include a clear path for users to move ahead from the path of contact to the actual entry into the form. Afshan goes on to also elaborate on products and services that are compared to create a good lure into the form.
Orientation
Afshan talks about the various aspects of orientation where an interface should determine where you at a particular point in time. Afshan elaborates on the importance of a progress indicator with respect to its placement and usage.
Chunking
Talking about cognitive terminologies like Chunking, Afshan goes on to apply her background to the field of interface design. She emphasizes on the need to group information in a context that is perceivable by end users.
Trust and Online Safety
Trust is a major factor that allows prospects to move ahead and become loyal customers. Talking about elements of trust on a website, Afshan probes into various aspects like security, taking a tour, an overview of what’s to come and language aid.
Wayfinding
With data being bombarded into our lives, the topic of wayfinding seems to become an important discussion for all. Afshan talks about it by providing examples from her everyday life.
User Experience Model (Summary Diagram)
Afshan describes a model that involves the working of a user’s mental model, experience and expectations. When mixed well together, this model leads to a positive user experience of a web based form.
Part 2 of the Article
As mentioned in Part 1, the next part of this article will focus on the designer’s role in the process of creating the form’s structure, layout, segmentation, widgets, color schemes, formatting, alignment, and consistency.
